Garage door supporting hardware



p 1953. R. G. JOHANNSEN 2,652,584

GARAGE DOOR SUPPORTING HARDWARE Filed Dec. 9, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l i INVENTOR. )fassezJ'k zrae/g P 22, 1953v R. G. JOHANNSEN 2,652,584

GARAGE DOOR SUPPORTING HARDWARE 2 sheets sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1949 a me W 7 Jflj. WM w 2 2 Z 1M Z W M /mm, W. m. 7 1. E 9 f A Q; "L 2H Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARAGE DOOR SUPPORTING HARDWARE Application December 9, 1949, Serial No. 132,192

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to door structures and more particularly to garage doors and supporting and guiding hardware therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide a garage door structure, of the type in which the door is swingable between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, which is extremely easy to open and close and which is supported and guided in such a manner as to reduce frictional drag or interference to a minimum and to properly support the door on the door frame structure at all times.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide support and guide means for a door of the aforementioned type, in which spring means are provided to aid in the opening of the door, to resiliently retain the door in a closed position, and to permit the door when it is approaching its closed position, to automatically close under its own weight.

It i a still further object of this invention to provide support and guide means of the aforementioned type, which may be adjustably connected with the door frame, so as to maintain the pivot axes on each side of said door in a properly aligned relationship, and thereby permit the door to operate efficiently, easily and properly, at all times.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide support and guide means of the aforementioned type, which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture, durable in use, efficient in operation and easy to connect with a door and door frame structure.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a garage door supported on a door frame by the support and guide structure of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2--2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken within the circle 3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 5-5 thereof; and

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 66 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that a door frame I is illustrated, which forms a door opening 8 for a suitable overhead garage door 9, or the like. The door frame F is composed in a conventional manner, of a horizontal header or horizontal portion II, and vertical side portions l3. Rearwardly extending, substantially horizontal rails l5 are connected with the garage frame structure on each side of the door 9 for receiving rollers H, which are connected with the door 9, adjacent the upper end thereof, by means of brackets IS. The door 9 closes the door opening 8, when it i in a generally vertical position, and opens the opening when the lower end thereof is swung upwardly to a generally horizontal position. 0n swinging movement of the door, the rollers ii on the upper end thereof move fore and aft in their respective guide rails l5.

In order to guide and support the door during its movement, the support and guide means, or hardware, of this invention is provided. This hardware includes a lever arm or angle iron member 2!, extending along each of the side edges of the door 9. An L-shaped bracket member 23 has one leg thereof pivotally connected to the lower end of each lever arm 2| by means of a pin or rivet element 25. The other leg of the bracket 23 is connected with the door 9, adjacent the lower end thereof, by any suitable means, such as bolts or rivets 21. A pin member 29 has one end thereof rigidly connected to each of the lever arms 2!, adjacent the upper end thereof, and projects laterally outwardly from each member 2| in a substantially horizontal plane. A U- shaped plate element 3| has its spaced parallel legs journaled on each pin 29 at two points spaced longitudinally thereof. An inverted L-shaped bracket member 33 has the horizontal leg portion thereof abutting the under side of the bight portion of each of the elements 3 l Each bracket 33 is connected to its adjacent U-shaped element 3! by means of a vertically extending bolt 35, which has its axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pin 29'. By loosening the bolt 35, the plate element 3| may be turned relative to the bracket 33, about the axis of the bolt, for adjusting purposes, as will hereinafter appear.

The vertical leg portion of each bracket 33 has elongated slots 31 therein, as Well as apertures 39. The vertical leg of each bracket 33 is connectable to the door frame 5 by mean of suitable connecting elements such as bolts 41, which may extend through the elongated slots 31 as well as the apertures 39. Due to the elongation of the slots 31, each bracket may be angularly adjusted 3 relative to the door frame, about a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bolt 35. When connecting the hardware elements with the garage door and door frame it is desirable that the opposed pin members 29, on each side of the door, be in alignment with each other and in a horizontal plane.

In order to insure the proper alignment of the pin members, the aforementioned adjustments are provided; that is, each bracket 33 may be angularly adjusted in one plane with respect to the door frame, due to the elongated slots 31, and each U-shaped element 3| may be angularly adjusted, in a perpendicular plane, relative to its bracket 33 by loosening the bolt 35 so as to easily align the pin members 29 with respect to each other. As the plate elements 3| pivotally support the pin members 29 at spaced points, the pin members cannot become cocked or out of alignment, even after long periods of use, as is generally the case where only a single bearing is provided between the pins and their supporting elements. Therefore, the aforementioned structure not only permits the proper alignment of the pin members but assures their proper support and continual alignment. Also, the manner in which the pin members 29 are supported reduces frictional binding, interference, or drag to a minimum, so that the door may be opened and closed in an easy manner, without overcomin a large amount of friction.

An extension or second lever arm 43 has its lower end rigidly connected to each of the pin members 29, outwardly of the U-shaped elements 3!, and the legs of the U-shaped element 32 are spaced from the extension arm 43 and the lever arm 2| by suitable spacer elements such as washers or the like 45. Each extension arm 43 extends substantially parallel to the lever arm 2!, but is tilted or angled slightly so that the extreme upper end thereof is disposed closer to the garage door than is the pivot pin 25, which connects the lower end of each arm or member 2! with the door frame 1. Each arm 43 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 49, through any one of which a bolt or pin member 51 may be inserted. The bolt or pin member 5! has a portion thereof projecting laterally outwardly to which the upper end of a coil spring 53 is connected. The pin 5| projects laterally outwardly far enough to prevent rubbing or engagement of the spring 53 with any of the other parts of the door hardware. The pin 5! can, of course, be inserted through any of the apertures 43, in order to properly tension the spring 53, as will hereinafter appear. The lower end of each spring 53 is connected to the door frame 1 by any suitable means, such as bracket 55, and an attaching element 51. The springs are elongated or placed under tension between the door frame and the lever arm extensions 43, so that when the lower end of the door is swung upwardly to open the door, the spring will act on the lever extension arm 43 to aid in opening the door. After the door is opened and it is desired to close the same, the outer end thereof is grasped and pulled downwardly. The maximum elongation of the springs 53 will occur when the door is approximately at its closed position, so that the springs will act, during the last portion of the door closing movement, to resiliently check such movement. When the door is in its completely closed position, the pivot pins 25 at the lower nd of th lever arms 2| will be disposed inwardly of the axes of the springs 53, and as the extension arms 43 are angled so that the upper ends thereof are nearer to the garage door than the pins 25, the springs will have moved over center relative to the pivot pins 25 and will resiliently retain the door in its closed position. The springs therefore act both to aid in opening the door as well as resiliently retaining the door in its closed position.

Still further, when the door approaches its closed position and the lower end thereof reaches a point approximately six inches or so outwardly of the door frame, the axes of the springs 53 will approach and be almost in substantial alignment with their adjacent lever arms 2|, so that the resilient spring action is substantially neutralized, or at least reduced to a very low value. As the force exerted by the springs at this point is practically negligible, the weight of the downwardly swinging door will cause the same to automatically close against the door frame, thus eliminating the necessity of the door operator manually forcing the door to a closed position. That is, when the lower end of the door is only about six inches from the door frame, the door will automatically close under its own weight, and need not be manually closed. This is possible not only becaus the force exerted by the springs 53 is substantially neutralized, but additionally because frictional drag or interference between the pin members 29 and the U-shaped supporting elements 3| is practically eliminated. As there is no binding between the pin members 29 and their supporting elements, the door is free to swing easily and the weight of the door is sufficient to overcome the small spring load at this point and cause automatic closing of the door. Still further, the spaced bearing supports of the pins 29 eliminate side sway of the door, and impart rigidity to the arms 2| so that the door will always open and close in the desired manner. In order to cushion the door near its full open position, a friction stop element 61, having a flange 65 at the inner end, is secured to each side of the door opening in position to engage the lever arms 2|. The arms engage the sloping face of the elements 6'! just before the door is fully open, to cushion the final movement of the door which is sloped against the flanges 65.

It will thus be seen that a door structure and door supporting and guiding hardware are provided which will enable the door to operate easily and efficiently, without any binding, interference or misalignment, and which will permit the door to automatically close and be resiliently held in its closed position due to the arrangement and construction of the structure of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Support and guide means for a door of the type in which the upper portion of the door is movably supported on substantially horizontal guide members so that the door may be tilted, relative to a door frame, between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, including a lever arm, bracket means pivotally connected to the Iower portion of said lever arm and adapted to be rigidly connected to the lower portion of the door, a

member pivotally supported on said lever arm at one of a plurality of spaced selectable points adjacent the upper end thereof for movement about a generally horizontal axis, plate means connected with said member for angular adjustment about an axis substantially perpendicular to the pivotal axis of said member, means on said plate means for permitting the latter to .be connected to the door frame for angular adjustment in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the angular adjustment axis of said plate means, means providing a rigid extension for said lever arm extending above said member pivotal axis, and means offset from the longitudinal axis of said lever arm extension means, and a spring element having one end connected to said last means and the opposite end adapted to be connected to the door frame adjacent the lower portion thereof.

2. Support and guide means for a door of the type in which the upper portion of the door is movably supported on horizontal guide members so that the door may be tilted relative to a door frame between a substantially-- vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, including a lever arm adapted to extend along one side edge of the door, bracket means pivotally connected to the lower portion of said lever arm and rigidly connectable to the lower portion of the door, a pinlike member rigidly connected to said lever arm adjacent the upper end thereof and projecting laterally from said arm on a substantially horizontal axis, a member journaled on said pinlike member at laterally spaced points thereof, a bracket element connected with said member for angular adjustment about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said pinlike member, said bracket element having elongated apertures therein through which connecting elements are adapted to extend to connect said bracket element to the door frame and to permit said bracket element to be angularly adjusted in a plane perpendicular to the angular adjustment axis of said bracket element, an arm element rigidly connected to said pinlike member and projecting upwardly therefrom, means on said arm element, and a coil spring having its upper end connected to said last means and its lower end adapted to be connected to the lower portion of the door frame.

3. One of a plurality of supporting means for a door of the type in which the upper portion of the door is movably supported on substantially horizontal guide members so that the door may be tilted relative to a door frame between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, embodying a lever arm, bracket means adapted for pivotally connecting the lower portion of said lever arm to the lower portion of the door, a pinlike member connected to said lever arm adjacent the upper end thereof and having a portion extending laterally away from said lever arm in a substantially horizontal plane, a member pivotally supported on said pinlike member at longitudinally spaced points thereof, plate means connected with said member for angular adjustment about a substantially vertical axis, elongated apertures in said plate means through which connector elements are adapted to extend for connecting said plate means to a door frame, said elongated apertures permitting said plate means to be angularly ad justed relative to said door frame, whereby to insure the alignment of the pinlike members on each side of the door and maintenance of said pinlike members in a horizontal plane, an arm element having the lower end thereof connected to said pinlike member laterally beyond said member pivotally supported thereon, and a coil spring having its upper end connected to said arm element and its lower end adapted to be connected to the door frame adjacent the lower end thereof.

4. Support and guide means for a door of the type in which the upper portion of the door is movably supported on substantially horizontal guide members, so that the door may be tilted relative to a door frame between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, including a lever arm adapted to extend along one side edge of the door, bracket means pivotally connected with the lower portion of said lever arm and rigidly connectable to the lower portion of the door, a pin element extending laterally from said lever arm and having one end thereof rigidly connected to said lever arm adjacent the upper end thereof, a substantially U-shaped member having the leg portions thereof pivotally supported on said pin at longitudinally spaced points thereon, an inverted L- shaped bracket element having the horizontal portion thereof engaging the horizontal bight portion of the U-shaped member, vertically extending bolt means securing said bracket element to said U -shaped member for angular adjustment about a vertical axis, elongated apertures in the,

vertical portion of said bracket element to permit said bracket element to be rigidly connected to the door frame and angularly adjusted with respect thereto, a generally vertically extending member having the lower end thereof rigidly connected to the free end of said pin, and a spring extending substantially parallel to said lever arm and having the upper end thereof connected to said vertically extending member and the lower end thereof connectable to the door frame adjacent the bottom thereof.

5. One of two like assemblies forming the hardware for supporting a door in an opening, including an angular support one face of which is attachable to a door jamb to have the other face horizontally disposed, a U-shaped bracket having its web pivotally secured to the horizontal face of the support and having spaced legs projecting therefrom provided with aligned apertures, a shaft projecting through said apertures, a door supporting arm secured in fixed position on one end of the shaft, and a spring supporting arm rigidly secured to the opposite end of the shaft whereby the shafts at each side of the door may be adjusted in a horizontal plane for alignment.

6'. One of two like assemblies forming the hardware for supporting a door in an opening, including an angular support one face of which is attachable to a door jamb to have the other face horizontally disposed, a U-shaped bracket having its web pivotally secured to the horizontal face of the support and having spaced legs projecting therefrom provided with aligned apertures, a shaft projecting through said apertures, a door supporting arm secured in fixed position on one end of the shaft, and a spring supporting arm rigidly secured to the opposite end of the shaft whereby the shafts at each side of the door may be adjusted in a horizontal plane for alignment, said portion of the angular support secured against the door jamb having elongated apertures whereby it may be adjusted in a vertical plane for accurately locating the angular portion in the horizontal plane whereby through the adjustment of the angular support and the U- shaped brackets the shafts may be accurately aligned axially.

'7. One of two like assemblies forming the hardware for supporting and balancing a door embodying a support having flanges disposed at right angles, one of said flanges being vertical for attaching to a jamb of the door, with the other of said flanges extending horizontally inwardly of the jamb, a U-shaped bracket having a web portion resting upon the horizontal flange and secured thereto for adjustment in a horizontal plane, spaced legs on said U-shaped bracket having an aligned aperture therethrough, a shaft extending through the apertures in the spaced legs providing rigid spaced bearing supports, a door supporting bar and a spring supporting element secured to said shaft and projecting in the opposite direction therefrom, and a bracket pivoted to the opposite end of said bar which is attachable to a door.

8. One of two like assemblies forming the hardware for supporting and balancing a door embodying a support having flanges disposed at right angles, one of said flanges being vertical for attaching to a jamb of the door, with the other of said flanges extending horizontally inwardly of the jamb, a U-shaped bracket having a web portion resting upon the horizontal flange and secured thereto for adjustment in a horizontal plane, spaced legs on said U-shaped bracket having an aligned aperture therethrough, a shaft extending through the apertures in the spaced legs providing rigid spaced bearing supports, a door supporting bar and a spring supporting element secured to said shaft and projecting in the opposite direction therefrom, a bracket pivoted to the opposite end of said bar which is attachable to a door, said spring supporting element having apertures therein along its length, and a laterally projecting element securable in one of said apertures for supporting one end of a spring outwardly of said shaft.

9. One of two like assemblies forming the hardware for supporting a door in an opening embodying a U-shaped bracket having a supporting web portion and spaced projecting legs through which aligned apertures are provided, a horizontal support for said web, a vertical pivot securing said web to said support, a shaft extending through the apertures in said legs providing spaced bearings therefor, a door supporting arm secured to one end of the shaft, and a spring supporting arm secured to the other end of the shaft, said arms projecting in opposite directions.

10. One of two like assemblies forming the hardware for supporting a door in an opening embodying a U-shaped bracket having a supporting web portion and spaced projecting legs through which aligned apertures are provided, a horizontal support for said web, a vertical pivot securing said web to said support, a shaft extending through the apertures in said legs providing spaced bearings therefor, a door supporting arm secured to one end of the shaft, a spring supporting arm secured to the other end of the shaft, said arms projecting in opposite directions, and a pivoted bracket secured to the free end of the door supporting arm.

11. One of two like assemblies forming the hardware for supporting a door in an opening embodying a U-shaped bracket having a supporting web portion and spaced projecting legs through which aligned apertures are provided, a horizontal support for said web, a vertical pivot securing said web to said support, a shaft extending through the apertures in said legs providing spaced bearings therefor, a door supporting arm secured to one end of the shaft, a spring supporting arm secured to the other end of the shaft, said arms projecting in opposite directions, a pivoted bracket secured to the free end of the door supporting arm, and a spring supporting ele ment projecting laterally from the spring supporting arm for supporting a spring in a position to clear the arm and shaft.

RUSSEL G. J OHANNSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,239,924 McFarlane et a1. Apr. 29, 1941 2,255,769 Gallagher et a1. Sept. 16, 1941 2,327,026 Deuring Aug. 17, 1943 2,405,821 Ferris et a1 Aug. 13, 1946 

